Barbara Creecy’s Macassar Visit

On Monday, 05 June 2023, the residents of Macassar in Cape Town received a visit by the Minister of Forestry and Fisheries and Environmental Affairs, Barbara Creecy, to commemorate the 50th World Environment Day.

The event, which took place on Macassar Beach, and was commemorated under the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution”, was welcomed by the ward councillor, Peter Helfrich, and the members of the community.

Councillor Peter Helfrich, who in his turn, welcomed all the delegates, including those from the United Nations Environment Programme, said that as a coastal community, it was very important for them to protect the ocean at all costs.

“We must protect our oceans at all costs. Our ocean contributes to the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the livelihoods of our people. It is important to note that plastic pollution contributes to climate change, and threatens the health of humans, and the quality and safety of food. Many marine species also succumb to the poison of plastics.” – said Councillor Peter Helfrich

Councillor Peter Helfrich also pointed out, while the world faces a plastic pollution crisis, his ward also faces a power crisis. He said, like Minister Barbara Creecy is doing her part to take action against the “plastic pollution crisis” he calls on Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to visit his ward and do something about the power crisis the ward is facing.

“I call on Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to take a leaf out of the book of Minister Barbara Creecy and to visit our ward amid the power crisis we are facing. We really need him to intervene and do something about it” – said Councillor Peter Helfrich

“It is important to understand that Macassar is an Eskom-supplied area. It pains me to admit this, but residents in our ward have, to a certain extent, forced themselves to make peace with load-shedding. What makes it unbearable for residents is the extended power outages that start when load-shedding ends. These prolonged power outages, at times, last for days on end. It is inhumane to expect residents to accept additional power outages over and above load-shedding.” – said Councillor Peter Helfrich

Four bodies have also been found dumped in Macassar since Saturday, 27 May 2023.

On the morning of Saturday, 27 May 2023, the body of an unidentified woman, who is suspected to be in her thirties, was found floating in shallow water on Macassar beach.

The body was discovered by a fisherman at around 7 am that morning.

“From what we understand, the body was handed over to Pathology Forensic Services to conduct an Autopsy to determine the cause of death.” – said Councillor Peter Helfrich

In the second incident, the body of a man that is suspected to have been stabbed to death was found in the bushes on Macassar Road, the very next day, on Sunday, 28 May 2023.

“From what we understand, a broken bottle neck was used to inflict the wounds he sustained on his neck and face.” – said Councillor Peter Helfrich

In a third incident, on Thursday, 1 June 2023, at around 4:30pm another body was found floating in a pool of water on Macassar Road, Macassar.

“From what we understand, the body had no visible injuries and a post-mortem now has to be conducted.” – said Councillor Peter Helfrich

In the latest incident, on Saturday, 3 June 2023 another body was found dumped, again on Macassar Road, Macassar.

We have no further details regarding the matter at this stage.

The Ward Councillor, Peter Helfrich, says Macassar has become a hotspot for criminals to dump bodies. He says the dumping of these bodies seems to coincide with the extended power outages the ward has been experiencing.

“It will be amiss of me not to point out that the criminal activities, and especially the dumping of bodies, in our ward seem to coincide with load-shedding and especially the extended Eskom power outages we are experiencing.” – said Councillor Peter Helfrich

“Macassar has been facing a power crisis and criminals take advantage of this.” – said Councillor Peter Helfrich

It is also very clear that almost all of the bodies being dumped in the ward are bodies of persons who do not reside in the ward. He says it is very likely that they have been murdered elsewhere and dumped here.

“It is not the first time bodies have been found dumped here. Macassar seems to be becoming a dumping hotspot for bodies.” – said Councillor Peter Helfrich